Orient: Awajishima Gekitou-hen
Synopsis
After Musashi rescues Michiru Saruwatari from a demon, his friend Kojirou Kanemaki discovers that his father was a member of the Uesugi clan. Determined to learn more about his own past, Kojirou—alongside his Kanemaki clansmen—decides to participate in Uesugi's punitive expedition against the demon lord of Awaji Island: Yamata no Orochi, an eight-headed dragon that threatens to engulf the entire region. However, upon joining Uesugi's military alliance, Musashi faces the harsh reality of fighting against powerful demons. Humiliated by his lack of power and inability to work in groups, he has to learn how to cooperate with his newfound allies. Meanwhile, the Obsidian Eight—a group pursuing the Obsidian Goddess that dwells within Musashi's body—resumes its hunt for Musashi, and plans to thwart the ongoing island operation. As the situation grows chaotic, Musashi and his friends must foil the machinations of the various factions conspiring to seize the Obsidian Goddess. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception to 'Orient: Awajishima Gekitou-hen' is mixed. While some appreciate the potential of the story, character development, and fight scenes, many are disappointed by the animation quality, pacing issues, and inconsistent narrative. The series shows promise but suffers from poor execution, leading to a sense of wasted potential.
Strengths
- Potential for worldbuilding and power system.
- Character development of the main and supporting cast.
- Mixing of fight scenes with emotional story beats (after initial episodes).
Weaknesses
- Animation quality is inconsistent and often lacking.
- Pacing issues, particularly in the early episodes and during action scenes.
- Inconsistent story quality, with a perceived decline in the second season.
- Newly introduced characters that were stand-off ish and hard to like.
- Unclear elements in the power system.
- Rushed plot.